By A. Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
Nagpur: In a fresh controversy from the saffron coalition in Maharashtra, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar has sought a ban on Muslims’ biggest NGO Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind alleging that its secretary has underworld connection and that it promotes ‘terrorism’ by providing legal assistance to terror accused.
Shelar, a BJP MLA from Bandra (West), and Mumbai BJP president, said in the Maharashtra assembly’s ongoing winter session here on Thursday the Maharashtra Jamiat-e-Ulema is not a registered body and that “its president Gulzar Azmi and his ‘brother’ Mustaqeem Azmi have links with Chhota Shakeel gang.”
Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind rally (TCN file photo)
Considering Jamiat’s role in providing legal assistance to terror accused as an offense, he said, “The Jamiat-e-Ulema collects huge donations to fight the cases of people arrested in terror related cases. It promotes terrorism in the country. It should be banned without further delay”.
“These are serious charges, and there is an urgent need to probe them. If found necessary, the Jamiat-e-Ulema should be banned,” he demanded.
Jamiat has denied all such allegations.
Another BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha raised the issue of loud speakers on mosques and called for declaring the loud speakers on the minars of mosque to be illegal and to take strict measures for controlling the volumes of Azan coming from mosques.
“At times when we are sleeping or in an important meeting, we get disturbed by the loud noises coming from the mosque. Therefore I request the government to either order for taking down loud speakers from Mumbai mosques or to issue directions to mosques to lessen their volumes,” he said in the assembly.
Both these MLAs spoke in the assembly when there was a discussion going on the law and order situation in the state.
Flak from Muslim MLAs and opposition parties
Agitated with the comments from Shelar against Jamiat Ulema, came in strong condemnation by the Congress, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and Samajwadi Party MLAs in the house.
Some of the Muslim MLAs protested these statements and unanimously requested Shelar to read the history of Jamiat Ulema and remove his ignorance about the highly respected Indian Muslim NGO that had also participated during Independence movement with several sacrifices.
“India’s first education minister and one of the leading figures in the country’s freedom struggle Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was president of the Jamia-e-Ulema. The country’s top leaders including Mahatma Gandhi have graced the Jamiat-e-Ulema sessions. Defamatory remarks against such an organisation are unacceptable,” Asif Shaikh Rasheed, Congress MLA from Malegaon (Central) said in the house.
Another Congress MLA Amin Patel advised Shelar to read contribution of Jamiat in the Independence of the country and said, “If you would ever know how Jamiat sacrificed during Independence, then you would not have maligned it this way.”
He also clarified that Jamiat does not provide legal assistance to every terror accused but only after verifying their innocence. He also said that Jamiat supports financial assistance all around the country during any natural calamity irrespective of religion of the victims.
Congress MLA from Chandiwali and former minority minister Arif Naseem Khan condemned Shelar’s anti-Jamiat statements and said that there is a need to ban those organizations that work for dividing the people but Jamiat is an NGO that helps in uniting the different communities.
“Today with the growing communal environment the organizations like RSS, VHP or Bajrang Dal should be banned who are dividing the society and creating hatred. Jamiat never promoted hatred and is very much secular organization that provides help to not only Muslims but also to Non Muslim victims,” he said.
Samajwadi Maharashtra chief and MLA Abu Asim Azmi said, “Jamiat is highly prestigious institution that always indulge only in good works and there should not be any doubt about its contribution in the social activities.”
The house speaker Hari Bhau Bagade did not allow any BJP MLA to respond and discontinued the discussion on the topic.
Jamiat Ulema’s account
Calling BJP MLA Shelar to be an ignorant person who never knew of Jamiat Ulema’s history, Jamiat Ulema Hind legal secretary Gulzar Azmi told TwoCircles.net: “Jamiat Ulema was honoured by the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi due to its contribution in Independence struggle. We are the organization that has sacrificed maximum as compared with any other saffron organization for the Independence of the country.”
“We had even objected to the division of the country,” he said, adding, “It is disgusting that people who killed father of the nation are called patriotic by the new party members where as they are questioning the patriotism of those who spent their lives for independence.”
Explaining the Jamiat’s motive in providing legal assistance to terror accused, Azmi said: “We do not provide assistance to terrorists but to innocent people implicated by police. We have a check before extending help to any accused and only after our panel is satisfied, we provide help.”
“We have till now helped to get acquittal of 63 accused who are now being proved innocent, is that a crime or is it anti national?” he questioned.
“We also provide help to non Muslims. We have helped two non Muslims from going into the gallows by getting favorable judgment from session court and one from Bombay High Court,” he explained.
Jamiat advocate Shahid Nadeem Ansari reciprocated while speaking with TwoCircles.net and said that Shelar does not have correct information. He said, “Gulzar Azmi is the secretary of the Jamiat-e-Ulema Legal Cell whereas Mustaqueem Azmi is its president. The two are not brothers as claimed by Shelar.”
When inquired if Jamiat is providing aid to Abu Jindal, an accused in the 26/11 case, he denied and said, “Jamiat is not providing any legal aid to Abu Jindal as claimed by Shelar. It can be verified from the court documents.”